Leonard Jackson, 44, prominent figure in gay...

Leonard "Len" C. Jackson, a prominent figure in the Baltimore gay and lesbian community, died Tuesday at home from complications of AIDS.

He was 44.

The native of New Bedford, Mass., graduated from Duke University in 1975 and lived briefly in New Orleans before moving to Atlanta, where he owned and was chef of the Jackson Square Restaurant. He moved to Baltimore in 1988.

From 1988 until 1991, he was executive director of the Gay and Lesbian Community Center of Baltimore.

He also was a secretary and a board member of the Persons with AIDS Coalition of Baltimore, the gay community representative on the Medicare 1115 Advisory Committee and director of the Gay and Lesbian Youth Group.

A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. today at Temple Oheb Shalom, 7310 Park Heights Ave.

He is survived by his mother, Sybil R. Jackson of New Bedford; a sister, Marsha Jackson of Hanover; a brother, Lawrence Jackson of Santa Barbara, Calif.; and his companion, James L. White of Baltimore.

H. Clinton Dowda Sr., 73, Washington Redskins player

H. Clinton "Harry" Dowda Sr., who was known as "Crazy Legs" and played defensive halfback for the Washington Redskins and the Philadelphia Eagles, died June 24 of a heart attack at his vacation home in Wintergreen, Va.

The former Ellicott City resident was 73 and had lived in Wake Forest, N.C., since 1992.

L He was a retired senior executive of Fair Lanes Bowling Inc.

The Atlanta native was a World War II Army paratrooper. After the war, he received a football scholarship to Wake Forest University and was captain of its 1948 team.

He played professional football from 1949 to 1957.

Services were held June 29.

He is survived by his wife, the former Bettie Marable Patterson; a son, H. Clinton Dowda Jr. of Frederick; a daughter, Cristie A. Dowda of Baltimore; a brother, Lamar Dowda of Greensboro, N.C.; and four grandchildren.

The Rev. John Mackey, 74, National Guard chaplain

The Rev. John J. Mackey, former Maryland National Guard chaplain and pastor of St. Patrick Roman Catholic Church in Mount Savage for 26 years, died Saturday of a heart attack at St. Joseph Medical Center in Towson.

He was 74.

Father Mackey, a diocesan priest who was ordained in 1949, was appointed pastor of the Allegany County church in 1967 and remained there until he retired, when he was named pastor emeritus and moved to St. Patrick's parish in Cumberland.

In 1953, he was named chaplain of the 175th Regiment of the Maryland National Guard, headquartered at 5th Regiment Armory.

He served in the position with the rank of captain until 1973.

Father Mackey also had been chaplain of the Mount Savage Knights of Columbus, Wamba Caravan Order of the Alhambra.

The East Baltimore native was a 1941 graduate of Loyola High School and studied at St. Joseph Preparatory School in Philadelphia for a year before entering St. Charles College in Catonsville.

He also studied at St. Mary's Seminary on Paca Street and earned a degree in theology studies from Mount St. Mary's Seminary in Emmitsburg in 1949.

A Mass of Christian burial was offered yesterday.

Father Mackey is survived by a brother, Maurice F. Mackey Jr. of Baldwin; and several nephews and nieces.